Top of the Key

A few weeks ago, if you were to ask me if I’m pushing it, I would have responded ‘Yeah, I’m pushing it’.  But realizing that I really don’t know 100% if I was, it just felt like I was.  Ask me right now, at this moment, Friday morning, 10:10am, if I’m pushing it.  I would now respond ‘ABSOLUTELY, without a doubt, I’m pushing it’.  I can say with 100% confidence that yesterday and today were solid efforts, probably more than I have done in the past.  I wish I could bottle up this energy, because it’s been sputtering out lately. I’ve been so tired at night, barely staying up to see my wife come home from school, just to say ‘hi’ for the day.

Thursday: 61 bike, 8 run, 4000 swim
Started with O2 at the Center with Craig.  Another session of feeling pretty good, helps to have the oxygen turned on.  I’ve been following the pattern of 1 week feel great, 1 week not so great…this week was great.  Looking over at Craig just steadily hammering out the big z4 chunks gets me to focus more at the task at hand.  Having someone there helps, as well as old Tour de France stages playing on the tv.

Rode home to get in some extra mileage, then headed off for 8 miles at Ironman race pace.  Strapped on the camelbak, filled a water bottle with water, and headed down to the CU cross country course, a new favorite of mine, and .6 miles from my house.  Convenient.  Had a blistering run, I think for the first time I ran 8 miles in under an hour, 59 min. to be exact.  Avg HR was low z3, a very good sign.  This is the 1st of two breakthroughs.

Recovered in time to do my hard swim at 5:30.  Rode my bike down to the EBRC and just went at it.  No delaying like I used to do.  Just keep moving.  Pretty solid swim for what I did earlier in the day, and the pain in my left shoulder, figured I’d be junk anyway, so I just did it.  Craig gave me his set from the previous day and it was brutal.  Chasing the Beep, new favorite drill.

Friday: 9 mile run, 600 swim
Early run with Tim at the track.  Warmed up, and it was cold out.  had long pants and long top on, and couldn’t feel my fingers.  That’s normal for me.  The track set was 5×1 mile repeats with 1 min rest in between at 10 bpm below LT, for me 172-177.  And here’s how it wrapped up:

mile 1: 5:45 (no, that’s not a typo, i actually hit my first ever sub 6 min mile)
mile 2: 6:09
mile 3: 6:11
mile 4: 6:23
mile 5: 6:26

Of course it hurt, especially the first 400m with the lactic acid in the legs, but then I could settle into the pace.  Worked on form alot, and that’s extremely helpful for me.  Thanks Tim.

Things to work on:
Leaning forward
Relaxing the shoulders
Keeping hands high, not low

So you ask if I’m pushing it?  More than ever.  Thanks Jess for pushing me, it starts at home, right here, and I’m feeding off your good vibes, so keep it coming.